Life From Here # 102----The Rat Years.

Whew! What a week! I had promised an update after my Wednesday appointment at Duke but as it turned out I had to go back Thursday night so I could begin the qualifying testing at 7:00 AM Friday.

I met with the Duke Doc and his nurses Wednesday and we went over the trial. It's a Phase I trial and the drug doesn’t even have a name…just a number. The trial just opened a 3 or 4  months ago so it has only been used on a few humans but the results have been really encouraging, including shrinkage of the bone tumors and lessening of the symptoms. This is real Lab Rat stuff! But as I’ve said in the past…if pond scum works…inject it!

Friday was a trip….I checked out of the hotel and got to the lab at 7:00 AM Friday. They taped in an IV and I got contaminated for the bone scan. They also injected me with the contrast for a CT scan…..i.e. I didn’t have to drink any of that used toilet water they say tastes like lemonade in order to do my CT scan. (Why don’t they all do that?). I was also able to go right in and get the CT scan instead of having to wait an hour as with the liquid. I then had to wait around for the bone scan. It takes a few hours for the "Enriched Plutonium" to contaminate your bones….or blow you up, whichever comes first. I swear I think the receptionists sit out there and wait until they see you start to glow and call back to the Nuclear Medicine Department and say “Hey, one of yours is ready!”.

After the Scans I had to go in with the Clinical Trial nurse so she could read to me aloud the 20-page disclaimer. I told her I had already read and in fact signed it but she had to do it anyway. The disclaimer basically takes away any rights you have above what an average Guinea Pig would have (Like choice of cage floor material, pine, cedar or the ever popular newspaper?). Each 3-week cycle they will increase the dose because part of the trial is to determine how much you can take with out…well…dying. You must acknowledge that one of the side effects may be death! It's not likely but this is hand-to-hand combat folks!......Hey, you sign the same thing to get your teeth cleaned these days!

I go back to Duke this Tuesday night (27th) for a 7:00AM Wednesday appointment. The drug is administered orally twice a day and the first three days are given at the hospital with tests in between so I'll be there until 7:00PM.  They'll put me up in a hotel….I’m not going to be in the hospital itself.

Duke just opened a new cancer center. They have Valet parking…I don’t use it but it’s nice to know it’s there. The place looks like a Ritz Carlton only instead of bellmen hanging clothes and putting suitcases on a wheeled rack, they are unloading people in wheel chairs and walkers. The new waiting room is different from the old….they have a “Hostess” that will help you make your single serving coffee and offer a roll if you wish…..They have 2 large flat screen TVs but still the same damn magazines! Modern Parent and WEBMD, like I want to read about the new cure for cancer that is 14 years away! Or see what I did wrong, or didn’t do for, my kids.

As with other waiting rooms I’ve endured you see all versions of the beast! I’m one of the few people there walking around on my own….most have wheel chairs. Some look great and way too many look really bad…my heart goes out for them and the loved one that is pushing the chair…it can be depressing but it can also be encouraging and hopeful because you overhear stories of success and the wonderful work they are doing there.

If you ever wondered if the Light and Prayers you send me are useful; consider this….I was 3rd in line to get the slot that opened up in this trial. The two in front of me got tired of waiting and took slots in other trials. The slot opened the week they left and I got there…Well?….Something or someone kicked those guys out of the way!

I swear to God that if I can put it together…..when I walk in to the lab Wednesday morning I’m going to have whiskers glued to my cheeks, a black nose and mouse ears. I’ll get them to take a picture.


Next week is a big week so Keep the Spiritual Energy and Prayers coming! I’ll be back in touch! B.